Commercial Importance of Alkenes

Because the carbon-carbon double bond is readily converted to other functional groups, alkenes are important intermediates in the synthesis of polymers, drugs, pesticides, and 

Uses of ethylene. Ethylene is the largest-volume industrial organic chemical. Most of the 138 billion pounds produced each year is polymerized to make polyethylene. Much of the rest is used to produce a variety of useful 2-carbon compounds. 

Uses of propylene. Most propylene is polymerized to make polypropylene. It is also used to make several important 3-carbon compounds. 

For example, tomatoes are harvested and shipped while green, then treated with ethylene to make them rip)en and turn red just before they are placed on display. 

This plant in Tokuyama, Japan, passes ethane rapidly over a hot catalyst. The products are ethylene and hydrogen. 

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The Orbital Description of the Alkene Double Bond 286 7-3 Elements of Unsaturation 287 7-4 Nomenclature of Alkenes 289 7-5 Nomenclature of Cis-Trans Isomers 291 Summary Rules for Naming Alkenes 293 7-6 Commercial Importance of Alkenes 294 7-7 Stability of Alkenes 296 7-8 Physical Properties of Alkenes 302... 

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